International Conference on

Climate Change & Social Issues,

December 14-15, 2011.
Institute of Human Development, Sri
Lanka & Toulouse Business School,
France
At Grand Orient Hotel, Colombo, Sri
Lanka

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIAN AGRICULTURE

- Dr V. Basil Hans & Dr Jayasheela [INDIA]

NAMASKARA (Greetings/wishes) from

the state of Karnataka in India
Content of our Paper:
Introduction
Impact on Indian Agriculture
Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change
Special Role of the Civil Society
Conclusion
References

Introduction
Climate Change - a growing global
problem and concern, calling for
concerted efforts by the developed
as well as developing countries
India ranking 4th in GHG emission
which we have released are
responsible for the strongest threat
namely the global warming.
Indian Agriculture vulnerable
physical, financial losses source

Impact on Indian
Agriculture
20th century was the warmest since the year 1400;
of the twelve of the recent warmest years in India,
eight were recorded during the first decade of the
21st
century,
2009
being
the
warmest
(temperature anomaly 0.913 C
With increase in temperature by 2080-2100 the
probable loss in crop production is 10-40 per cent
Loss in farm-level net revenue will range between
9 and 25 per cent for a temperature rise of 2-3.5 C
Climate Inflation, Climate Refugees, Capital
Intensity rising inequality and insecurity

Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change

Increasing efforts for the recovery of ozone layer
Reversing air pollution
Encouraging and enlisting peoples participation in
fighting global warming, with incentives a green
patriotism
Developing best (healthy) practices at all levels
personal, family, community (e.g. planting a carbon
neutral rooftop garden, recycling our wastes, buying
locally and healthily grown foods (avoiding food
miles and piles) support for consumption of
vegetarian food, regularly, regulating vehicular
services etc

Strategies contd
Fostering an integrated growth process
agriculture, industry and services, involving all
stakeholders rural people, urban people,
manufacturers, consumers, policy-makers,
scientists and green movement leaders
Ensuring equity in emissions
Avoiding farm sector crisis (e.g. farmers
suicides, misuse of SEZ land etc
Hone the appropriate coping skills; link gender
and poverty concerns with ecological concerns

Strategies contd
Encouraging organic farming and use of
bio-fertilisers and biomass fuel (even with
tariff concessions)
Strict control on population growth that can
add fuel to the fire
All-round awareness through education
about climate change, its impact and
modes to mitigate problems, not losing
common sense when nature calls

Special Role of the Civil Society

Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) and Empowerment for
Environmental Management (EEM)
Building consortia of farmers, soil
scientists,
meteorologists,
agricultural
economists,
agrofinanciers, media, NGOs etc for
suitable
interventions
and
innovations, particularly in droughtprone and biodiversity hotspot areas

Civil Society contd

India having a rich tradition of grass root and
civil society movements must cash on its
strength for mobilising mass support for
growth with equity and stability: good
governance
In the tsunami-hit lands of Andaman, Several
NGOs (e.g. Voluntary Health Association of
India, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Nandi foundation,
Tata Institute of Social Sciences etc) actively
participated in enhancing livelihood security
of the affected people

Conclusion
Dealing with Climate change is very much a
part of environmental governance, and both of
the so called developmental process life
without stagnation
Upholding Gandhian principles of self help, self
reliance and self sufficiency
India has a strong base to do this in the form of
the
Mahatma
Gandhi
National
Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREA) and its
provisions farm management, both pre harvest
and post harvest

References
Antholis, William (2009). India and Climate Change, The Wall Street
JournalDigital
Network
Asian
Edition,
July
20.
Available
at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124787011359360457.html
(accessed
10/12/2011).
Bali, V.K. (n.d.) Agriculture Productivity in India Issues and Challenges,
Panchkula Agricultural productivity document, Regional Staff College,
Panchkula. Available at https://docs.google.com (accessed 10/12/2011).
Brown, Lester, R. Eco-Economy Building an Economy for the Earth,
Hyderabad: Orient Long Man Limited, Reprint, 2004.
Gupta, Alok, Bihar introduces green tax, Down To Earth, 18(21): 16-31,
2010.
Christianson, Gale E. Green House the 200-Year Story of Global
Warming, University Press (India) Limited, 2000.
Hans, V. Basil. Sustainable Agriculture and India Dimensions and
Directions. In: Rasure, K.A. (ed.), Sustainable Agricultural Development,
Jaipur: Oxford Book Company, 2010.

References contd
Hans, V. Basil. Climate Change and Indian Agriculture
Implications and Reactions. National Seminar on Civic
Response to Global Warming A Sociological Perspective,
Dept of Sociology and Dept of Social Work, St Marys
College, Shirva, DK District, Karnataka (India) and
Mangalore Sociology Association, August 12-13, 2011.
Hans, V. Basil. Climate Change, Variability and
Vulnerability Strategies for Indian Agriculture. In:
Rasure, K.A. (ed.), Development of Agriculture in the Era
of Climate Change. Jaipur: Oxford Book Company, 2012.
Kiran, V. Basil Hans and Jayasheela. Indian Agriculture:
Crises and Challenges under Globalisation. Social Action,
69 (1): 16-115.

References contd
Kumar, B. Ganesh, R. Sendhil, P. Venkatesh, R. Raja, V.
Jayakumar and S. Jeyakumar. Socio-economic Impact
Assessment of Livelihood Security in Agriculture, Animal
Husbandry and Aquaculture on the Tsunami-hit Lands of
Andaman. Agricultural Economics Research Review
22(Conference Number):483-494, 2009.
Leuthard, Doris. Concluding comments on the economics of
climate change. OECD Observer Supplement, 3-4 June,
2008, pp. 2-3.
Shyamala, A. (2011). Global Warming: An Analysis.
Southern Economist September 15, 50 (10): 12-12
Makower, Joel (The Green Patrotit Working Group). 50 Simple
Steps to Save the Earth from Global Warming, Mumbai: Jaico
Publishing House, Third Impression, 2010.

Gratitude
DANYAVAD! (Thanks) to the Chair,
organizers,
co-participants,
civil
society members
Where there is a will there is a way:
lets work together for stability and
security of all nations.